South Africa and Mauritius couple superbly for a safari and beach holiday or honeymoon. Whilst South Africa offers both world class safari and cosmopolitanism, Mauritius encapsulates the very essence of laid-back island life. Start your adventure on the plains of one of South Africa’s many game rich national parks, spending your days on safari, tracking the Big Five and sipping on sundowners, before exploring the country’s vibrant cities or impressive coastal routes. A short flight to Mauritius takes you to another world of sugar white beaches, kaleidoscopic reefs and a verdant green mountainscapes. There, you can choose to do as little or as much as you like, whether it be soaking up the island’s unique Creole culture or whiling away lazy days under the shade of a leafy palm. The ultimate safari and beach combination for a year-round adventure.

Mauritius is absolutely perfect for honeymoons. Private beaches, good weather and a relaxed atmosphere all contribute but it is the world class service, expertise and understanding from the hotels really make Mauritius a special honeymoon destination.

Lose yourself in luxury on this indulgent itinerary, relaxing in this beautiful and secluded bay of the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius.

LUX Grand Gaube

North Coast, Mauritius

Best for: Beach, Diving, Family

LUX Grand Gaube is a stylish and relaxing beach resort on Mauritius’ North Coast. Designed around Feng Shui principles, LUX Le Grand Gaube is a peaceful retreat where couples and families alike can enjoy a superb spa, scuba diving and great facilities.

The LUX Grand Gaube is situated in a beautiful and secluded bay close to Grand Gaube on the northeast coast of Mauritius. The hotel is designed around the principles of Feng Shui – an ancient philosophy based on the idea of humans living in harmony with the environment. This may sound abstract at first, but in practice this translates into some pleasant and refreshing colour schemes, and room categories designed specifically to reflect different aspects of Feng Shui. There are 198 air-conditioned rooms, all tastefully furnished with en-suite bathrooms, ceiling fans, internet access, satellite TV, mini-bar and a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea.

There are four restaurants and two bars at the LUX Grand Gaube. The main Gingko restaurant opens for breakfast and dinner, whilst the split-level à la carte Karma restaurant opens only in the evenings – and has an open kitchen, walk-in wine cellar, private dining area and outdoor terrace. La Bastide bar & grill serves Mediterranean specialities during the day and offers romantic meals on the beach in the evenings. There’s also a small seafood restaurant and an elegant cocktail lounge.

Activities at LUX Grand Gaube include a wide variety of water sports (including a PADI dive centre and water-skiing), bicycle hire, tennis courts, a golf driving range (there is a links course 20 minutes away) and a 60-seat cinema. A huge swimming pool and two children's clubs keep youngsters from three years and up occupied and entertained during the day, while for adults the fantastic Source spa includes two Jacuzzis, a salt-water swimming pool, a high-tech gym, hydrotherapy and massage rooms.

When to go

Mauritius enjoys a typically tropical climate with year-round heat, although the southeast trade winds help it never to feel too muggy. The summer months are from December to April, when it can nevertheless be extremely humid, and the winter, such as it is, runs from May to November, and is cooler and drier.

The best months to visit Mauritius are May to early December. January and February, the peak cyclone months, are best avoided by water-sports enthusiasts and divers. Cyclones rarely hit Mauritius (although Rodrigues has suffered far more regularly than the mainland) but cyclones way out at sea can bring days of squally rain.

Coastal temperatures range between 25°C and 33°C in summer and between 18°C and 24°C in winter. On the plateau it will be some 5°C cooler. The highlands are also the wettest part of the island – it can rain here at any time of year, and even when it’s not raining the area can be cloaked in low-lying cloud. When the winds are at their strongest in July and August it can be blustery on the east coast, though the breeze brings welcome relief in summer.

Apart from the Christmas-New Year peak, Mauritius doesn’t really have high and low seasons. The situation is more dependent on outside factors (such as the French school holidays, which cause a big increase in demand and prices in August).

We want to be really clear about this. We offer amazing value. Tailor-made does not have to mean expensive, it simply means attention to every detail of your trip that will be designed by a true expert.

Here at Imagine Africa, we are so confident that we offer the best value on the market that we have a price promise. If you find the exact same holiday cheaper with another UK tour operator, then we promise to beat their price by £50.

Rest assured that all our holidays are 100% financially protected. Our ATOL bond protects holidays booked in the UK with flights. Our ABTOT bond protects holidays which are booked without flights or those booked outside the UK, either with or without flights.

Protection means that in the unlikely event that we become insolvent; your holiday will be refunded or you will be repatriated if already travelling or have flights with us.